Small business: obligations for employers checklist

Employer's obligations

As an employer, you have legal obligations to:

• ensure workplace health and safety
• assist injured workers
• help injured workers return to work

Work through this checklist to better understand your obligations to your employees and to ensure a safe and healthy workplace.

Workplace health and safety

• Provide and maintain safe machinery and equipment, and safe systems of work.
• Maintain the workplace in a safe condition.
• Ensure safe use, handling, storage and transport of chemicals.
• Provide employees with adequate facilities.
• Keep records relevant to your employees' health and safety.
• Consult with employees on matters that may affect their health and safety.
• Notify WorkSafe Victoria immediately by calling 132 360 of any:
  • workplace death
  • serious injury where medical treatment is required
  • incident that could have caused death or serious injury

• Display the 'If you are Injured' poster, in a place for all employees to see.

Assist injured employees

• Assist your injured employee with appropriate medical treatment.
• Complete the employer section of the Worker’s injury claim form, ensuring you sign and date it.

• Confirm receipt of your Worker’s injury claim form in writing — give your employee the carbon copy.
• Complete the Employer injury claim report.

• Send original documents to your WorkSafe agent within 10 calendar days of receiving the Worker's injury claim form or penalties may apply.

Helping injured workers return to work

• Nominate a Return to Work Coordinator.
• Prepare a return to work plan for any injured worker. (your WorkSafe agent can assist you with this).

• Support your worker and regularly review their return to work plan.
• Provide your worker with suitable employment when they have a capacity for work. This obligation exists for 52 weeks and usually commences on the date the worker is unable to work as a result of injury.
• Establish occupational rehabilitation and risk management programs.
• Contact your WorkSafe agent for advice or assistance on claims or return to work.